Education

The day began with a short talk about the history of relief sculptures. The Children were shown how Henry Moore used ’found objects’ to make his relief sculptures and how other artists have also used everyday objects to make a range of works.

Everyone was given a block of clay from which a mould was made. Impressions were then made in the clay using shells, stones, bones and other interesting objects that they had brought along. When everyone was happy with the design of his or her mould, plaster was poured in.

While the reliefs were setting we were taken by coach to the Foundation’s estate in Perry Green, where Rosemary Walker took the children on a tour of the studios. They were also shown the exhibition ’Henry Moore: War and Utility’, and the large sculptures in the grounds.

After the tour everyone returned to the hall to turn out their sculptures. Once the children had washed their reliefs, they applied brightly coloured paints using sponges. The finished works were very different from each other and showed a great deal of imagination and dramatic use of colour.